JETS parted company with TJ Walker because “their visions no longer coincided”.

That was the reason given by the Jets in an official statement confirming the Californian’s departure on Saturday.

Walker, who joined Jets last summer from Newcastle Eagles, left “by mutual consent” following a meeting where it became clear that the club and the coach had different priorities.

Jets director Pete Hawkins told The Chronicle: “We met TJ and it was clear that we were no longer on the same path. To continue may have held the club back, so we agreed to part company. The exact reasons remain confidential between us and TJ.”

Jets are now likely to find a successor to Walker from close to home, with director of basketball Paul Smith the clear favourite to take charge.

Hawkins said: “Post-TJ, the first likelihood is that we will promote from within. We have not yet made a decision about how the coaching structure will set up or who will take the head coach role permanently.”

Smith looked after first-team affairs while Walker was in America over Christmas, undergoing surgery on a knee injury. He will lead the team in this weekend’s matches against Newcastle in the BBL Trophy and Scottish Rocks in the BBL Championship.

Hawkins said: “Paul is focusing on preparing the team for the weekend and searching for a player to replace TJ. The advantage he has is that TJ was one of our permitted ‘passport’ players so we can recruit a player who is a non-EU passport holder.”